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Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for the treatment of liver metastases: biodistribution studies of boron compounds in an experimental model

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Abstract

We previously demonstrated the therapeutic efficacy of different boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) protocols in an experimental model of oral cancer. BNCT is based on the selective accumulation of 10B carriers in a tumor followed by neutron irradiation. Within the context of exploring the potential therapeutic efficacy of BNCT for the treatment of liver metastases, the aim of the present study was to perform boron biodistribution studies in an experimental model of liver metastases in rats. Different boron compounds and administration conditions were assayed to determine which administration protocols would potentially be therapeutically useful in in vivo BNCT studies at the RA-3 nuclear reactor. A total of 70 BDIX rats were inoculated in the liver with syngeneic colon cancer cells DHD/K12/TRb to induce the development of subcapsular tumor nodules. Fourteen days post-inoculation, the animals were used for biodistribution studies. We evaluated a total of 11 administration protocols for the boron compounds boronophenylalanine (BPA) and GB-10 (Na 102 B10H10), alone or combined at different dose levels and employing different administration routes. Tumor, normal tissue, and blood samples were processed for boron measurement by atomic emission spectroscopy. Six protocols proved potentially useful for BNCT studies in terms of absolute boron concentration in tumor and preferential uptake of boron by tumor tissue. Boron concentration values in tumor and normal tissues in the liver metastases model show it would be feasible to reach therapeutic BNCT doses in tumor without exceeding radiotolerance in normal tissue at the thermal neutron facility at RA-3.

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Acknowledgments

This study was supported in part by in-kind contributions from the US Department of Energy through the Idaho National Laboratory and a grant from the National Agency for the Promotion of Science and Technology of Argentina. The authors wish to acknowledge the expert advice and generous support of Dr. Claudio Devida and his team with ICP boron measurements.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Radiobiology, National Atomic Energy Commission, Avenida General Paz 1499, B1650KNA, San Martin, Province Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Marcela A. Garabalino, Andrea Monti Hughes, Ana J. Molinari, Elisa M. Heber, Emiliano C. C. Pozzi, Maria E. Itoiz, Verónica A. Trivillin & Amanda E. Schwint

  2. Department of Research and Production Reactors, National Atomic Energy Commission, Presbítero Juan González y Aragon 15, B1802AYA, Ezeiza, Province Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Emiliano C. C. Pozzi

  3. Oncology Institute Angel H. Roffo, Avenida San Martin 5481, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Jorge E. Cardoso & Lucas L. Colombo

  4. Department of Chemistry, National Atomic Energy Commission, Avenida General Paz 1499, B1650KNA, San Martin, Province Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Susana Nievas

  5. Idaho National Laboratory, 2525 North Fremont Street, P.O. Box 1625, Idaho Falls, ID, 83415, USA

    David W. Nigg

  6. Department of Oral Pathology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Buenos Aires, Marcelo T. de Alvear 2142, 1122, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina

    Romina F. Aromando & Maria E. Itoiz

Authors
  1. Marcela A. Garabalino
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  2. Andrea Monti Hughes
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  3. Ana J. Molinari
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  4. Elisa M. Heber
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  5. Emiliano C. C. Pozzi
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  6. Jorge E. Cardoso
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  7. Lucas L. Colombo
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  8. Susana Nievas
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  9. David W. Nigg
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  10. Romina F. Aromando
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  11. Maria E. Itoiz
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  12. Verónica A. Trivillin
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  13. Amanda E. Schwint
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Amanda E. Schwint.

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Garabalino, M.A., Monti Hughes, A., Molinari, A.J. et al. Boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) for the treatment of liver metastases: biodistribution studies of boron compounds in an experimental model. Radiat Environ Biophys 50, 199–207 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-010-0345-6

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00411-010-0345-6

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